LOCK

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock including a locking mechanism having a latch that is movable between a latched position, which is provided for securing a counter-piece movable relative to the locking mechanism, and an unlatched position provided for releasing the counter-piece, and having an actuation element for manually moving the latch into the unlatched position. The lock furthermore includes a coupling element that can be transferred between a coupled state, in which it is coupled to the latch, and a decoupled state, in which it is movable relative to the latch, and that can be moved from a passive position into an active position by means of the actuation element, wherein the latch can be moved into the unlatched position by a movement of the coupling element, which is in the coupled state, from the passive position into the active position by the actuation element.

Claims

1. A lock comprising: a locking mechanism having a latch that is movable between a latched position, which is provided for securing a counter-piece movable relative to the locking mechanism, and an unlatched position provided for releasing the counter-piece; an actuation element for manually moving the latch into the unlatched position; and a coupling element that can be transferred between a coupled state, in which it is coupled to the latch, and a decoupled state, in which it is movable relative to the latch, and that can be moved from a passive position into an active position by means of the actuation element, wherein the latch can be moved into the unlatched position by a movement of the coupling element, which is in the coupled state, from the passive position into the active position by the actuation element.

2. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the coupling element is arranged movable in parallel with the latch.

3. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the direction of movement of the actuation element is oriented at least substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of the latch and/or of the coupling element.

4. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the latch has a guide section in which the coupling element is guided.

5. The lock in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a control element for selectively transferring the coupling element into the coupled state or the decoupled state.

6. The lock in accordance with at least claim 5, wherein the latch and the coupling element are coupled by the control element the coupled state.

7. The lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the control element is configured as a control fork that engages around the latch at three sides.

8. The lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the control element has at least one coupling pin for coupling the latch and the coupling element.

9. The lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the coupling element and the latch each have at least one recess for receiving the control element.

10. The lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the control element and the latch are movably connected to one another.

11. The lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein a movement of the latch from the latched position into the unlatched position brings about a rotational movement of the control element.

12. The lock in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a blocking element that is adjustable between a blocking position, in which the latch is blocked in its latched position, and a release position in which the latch is movable into its unlatched position.

13. The lock in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a control element for selectively transferring the coupling element into the coupled state or the decoupled state, wherein the block element is formed at the control element.

14. The lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein in the blocking position of the blocking element, the blocking element is in engagement with a non-movable component of the lock.

15. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the latch can be brought from the latched position into the unlatched position against a return force of a spring.

16. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the coupling element can be brought from the passive position into the active position against a return force of a spring.

17. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the latch can be brought from the latched position into the unlatched position against a return force of a spring and the coupling element can be brought from the passive position into the active position against the return force of the same spring.

18. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lock comprises at least one actuator for transferring the coupling element between the coupled state and the decoupled state and/or for adjusting a blocking element between its blocking position and its release position.

19. The lock in accordance with claim 5, wherein the lock comprises at least one actuator for actuating the control element.

20. The lock in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a detection means for detecting the adoption of the latched position by the latch.

21. The lock in accordance with at least claim 20, wherein the detection means comprises an actuator for adjusting a blocking element that is adjustable between a blocking position, in which the latch is blocked in its latched position, and a release position in which the latch is movable into its unlatched position.

22. A lock comprising a locking mechanism that has a latch that is movable between a latched position, which is provided for securing a counter-piece movable relative to the locking mechanism, and an unlatched position provided for releasing the counter-piece, the lock further comprising a detection means for detecting the adoption of the latched position by the latch.

23. The lock in accordance with claim 22, wherein the detection means comprises an actuator for adjusting a blocking element that is adjustable between a blocking position, in which the latch is blocked in its latched position, and a release position in which the latch is movable into its unlatched position.

24. The lock in accordance with claim 22, further comprising: an actuation element for manually moving the latch into the unlatched position; and a coupling element that can be transferred between a coupled state, in which it is coupled to the latch, and a decoupled state, in which it is movable relative to the latch, and that can be moved from a passive position into an active position by means of the actuation element, wherein the latch can be moved into the unlatched position by a movement of the coupling element, which is in the coupled state, from the passive position into the active position by the actuation element.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0038] The invention will be described in the following purely by way of example with reference to a possible embodiment and to the enclosed drawing. There are shown:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a lock in accordance with the invention with a coupling element in a decoupled state;

[0040] FIG. 2 is a further perspective front view of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 4 is a further perspective rear view of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 7 is a side view of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the lock of FIG. 1 along a plane that is defined by a direction of movement of a latch and by an actuation direction of an actuation element;

[0047] FIG. 9 is a further sectional view of the lock of FIG. 1 along a plane that is defined by the direction of movement of the latch and by a longitudinal axis of a coupling pin;

[0048] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a latch of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 11B is a further perspective view of the latch of FIG. 11A,

[0051] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the coupling element of FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 13A a perspective view of a control element of the lock of FIG. 1;

[0053] FIG. 13B a plan view of the control element of FIG. 13A;

[0054] FIG. 14 illustrates the lock of FIG. 1 with the coupling element in the decoupled state, wherein the coupling element is transferred into the active position; and

[0055] FIG. 15 illustrates the lock of FIG. 1 with the coupling element in the coupled state, wherein the coupling element is transferred into the active position and the latch is transferred into the unlatched position.

DESCRIPTION

[0056] A lock 10, in particular for an electric bicycle and, for example, for securing an energy store at the electric bicycle, is shown in FIGS. 1 to 15. In general, the lock may, however, also be used to lock doors, windows, drawers, transport boxes, containers, or generally as a substitute for a mechanical lock. The lock 10 comprises a locking mechanism having a latch 12 that has a locking section 12.1. The latch 12 is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 15). In the latched position, the locking section 12.1 of the latch 12 may be brought into engagement with a counter-piece movable relative to the locking mechanism, for example with the energy store (not shown), to secure said counter-piece in the lock 10, wherein the unlatched position is provided for the release of the counter-piece.

[0057] To move the latch from the latched position into the unlatched position, the lock 10 comprises a manually actuable actuation element 14 that comprises a handle 16 in the form of a push button in the embodiment shown. On an actuation of the push button, the actuation element 14 is displaced along an actuation axis B in the direction of the latch.

[0058] The actuation element 14 does not act directly on the latch 12 to move it into the unlatched position. Instead, a coupling element 18 is provided that is in engagement with the actuation element 14 (FIG. 8) and that can be moved from a passive position, as is shown in FIG. 1 (cf. also FIG. 8), into an active position, as is shown in FIGS. 14, 15, by said actuation element 14.

[0059] The coupling element 18 is arranged movable in parallel with the latch 12. The latch 12 and the coupling element 18 have a common longitudinal axis L (FIG. 10) that also defines the direction of movement of the latch 12 and the coupling element 18. The coupling element 18 is guided in a guide section 20 that is formed by the latch 12 and that comprises a guide shaft 21 which is formed centrally within the latch 12 and in which the coupling element 18 is slidingly supported. The guide shaft 21 has a lateral width S that approximately corresponds to a lateral extent D of the coupling element 18 (FIGS. 11A, 12).

[0060] The longitudinal axis L of the latch 12 and of the coupling element 18, and thus their direction of movement, is oriented perpendicular to the direction of movement of the actuation element 14 along the actuation axis B. To convert the actuation movement of the actuation element 14 into the latch movement perpendicular thereto, the actuation element 14 has a transmission section 22 that has a first slanted control surface 24. Correspondingly thereto, the coupling element 18 has a second slanted control surface 26 along which the first inclined control surface 24 of the actuation element 14 is slidingly movable in the direction of the actuation axis B (FIG. 8).

[0061] The coupling element 18 is movably supported by means of a spring 28 and, on the pressing in of the actuation element 14, is urged into its active position by the first slanted control surface 24 against the return force of the spring 28 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of said coupling element 18 (FIG. 14). The coupling element 18 has a bearing recess 30, into which the spring 28 configured as a coil spring may engage, for the support on the spring 28. Due to a bearing prolongation 32, the coupling element 18 is stably seated on the spring 28 (FIG. 12).

[0062] The latch 12 is supported by means of the same spring 28 so that it may be brought from its latched position into the unlatched position against the return force of the spring 28. At its end remote from the locking section 12.1, the latch 12 has a substantially annular bearing recess 34 for engaging into the spring 28, wherein a stable seat of the latch on the spring is ensured by two bearing tongues 36 that sectionally bound the annular bearing recess 34 at the inner side (FIGS. 11A, B).

[0063] Due to the support of the latch 12 by means of the spring 28, a latch function of the lock 10 may be implemented. The insertion of a counter-piece into the locking mechanism, for example of the energy store, may take place when the latch 12 is in the latched state since, on the insertion of the counter-piece, the latch 12 is pressed against the return force of the spring 28 into its unlatched position in the meantime. A control chamfer 12.2 is provided at the latch for this purpose. If the counter-piece is completely inserted into the lock 10, the latch 12 is automatically urged into its latched position by the spring 28 so that there is immediately protection against loss for the counter-piece.

[0064] In accordance with FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 and FIG. 14, the coupling element 18 is in a decoupled state in which it is movably arranged relative to the latch 12 so that a movement of the actuation element 14 and a thereby produced movement of the coupling element 18 from the passive position into the active position remain without an effect on the latch 12 (FIG. 14). To be able to move the latch 12 into its unlatched position by means of the actuation element 14, the coupling element 18 may be transferred into a coupled state in which it is coupled to the latch 12. In the coupled state, on an actuation of the actuation element 14, the coupling element 18 is transferred into the active position and the latch 12 coupled to the coupling element 18 is in this respect taken along into its unlatched position (FIG. 15).

[0065] A control element 38 is provided to transfer the coupling element 18 into the coupled state or into the decoupled state (FIGS. 13A, B). In the embodiment shown, the control element 38 is configured as a control fork 40 that comprises a first tine 44.1 and a second tine 44.2 in addition to a suspension strut 42. The control fork 40 engages around the latch 12 at three sides, wherein the surface 46 engaged around by the control fork 40 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the latch in the latched state of the latch 12 or in the passive position of the coupling element 18.

[0066] The control element 38 furthermore has a coupling pin 48 which extends between the first and second tine 44.1, 44.2 and whose longitudinal axis K is oriented perpendicular to the tines 44.1, 44.2 and to the direction of movement and the longitudinal axis L of the latch 12 and of the coupling element 18 (FIGS. 10, 13B). The coupling pin 48 is arranged at an end of the control fork 40 disposed opposite the suspension strut 42 and centrally impacts the latch 12 and the coupling element 18 in the assembled lock 10 with respect to the actuation axis B (FIGS. 2, 7).

[0067] To be able to receive the control element 38 and in particular the coupling pin 48 of the control element 38, the coupling element 18 and the latch 12 each have corresponding recesses. The coupling element 18 has a passage opening 52 whose diameter allows the passing through of the coupling pin 48 in the axial direction (FIG. 12). The latch 12 has a first passage opening 54.1 and a second passage opening 54.2 that are arranged at oppositely disposed sides of the latch 12 with respect to the longitudinal axis K of the coupling pin 48. Due to the common support of the latch 12 and the coupling element 18 by means of the spring 28, it is ensured that the passage openings 52, 54.1, 54.2 of the coupling element 18 and of the latch 12 are aligned flush with one another in the passive position.

[0068] The coupling pin 48 is formed in two parts and comprises a first coupling pin section 48.1 and a second coupling pin section 48.2 that are separated by a gap 50. The gap 50 approximately has the lateral width S of the guide shaft 21, which is arranged in the latch 12, along the longitudinal axis K of the coupling pin 48. Therefore, the coupling element 18 may be arranged in the gap 50 such that said coupling element 18 does not come into engagement with the coupling pin 48. This characterizes precisely the decoupled state in accordance with FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 and FIG. 14 and is represented in the sectional representation by the coupling pin 48 in accordance with FIG. 9. In the decoupled state, the coupling element 18 may therefore be moved relative to the control element 38 independently of the control element 38 by the actuation element 14 (FIG. 14).

[0069] In the decoupled state in accordance with FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 and FIG. 14, the latch 12 is in engagement with the control element 38 by means of the first and second coupling pin sections 48.1, 48.2 that are introduced into the first or second passage opening 54.1, 54.2 (FIGS. 2, 9). The first tine 44.1 of the control fork 40 is almost in contact with the side of the latch 12 in which the first passage opening 54.1 is arranged and the first coupling pin section 48.1 is completely arranged in the passage opening 54.1 (FIG. 5).

[0070] To transfer the coupling element 18, starting from the decoupled state shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 and FIG. 14, into the coupled state—and vice versa if necessary —, the lock 10 has an electric motor 56 that is connected to the control element 38 via the suspension strut 42. The suspension strut 42 has an articulated channel 58 that, in the embodiment shown, is connected in an articulated manner to a pivot arm 60 seated on a shaft 63 of the electric motor 56, wherein the pivot arm 60 may be pivoted into well-defined positions (arrow 65 in FIG. 5). A first position of the pivot arm 60 shown in FIG. 14 corresponds to the decoupled state in accordance with FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 and a second position of the pivot arm 60 shown in FIG. 15 corresponds to the coupled state of the coupling element 18.

[0071] A pivoting of the pivot arm 60 from the first position in accordance with FIG. 14 into the second position in accordance with FIG. 15 results in a linear displacement of the control element 38 along the longitudinal axis K of the coupling pin 48, wherein the direction 62 of the linear displacement is indicated by an arrow 62 in FIG. 9. Due to the linear displacement, the first coupling pin section 48.1 is pushed out of the first passage opening 54.1 and is thus brought out of engagement with the latch 12. The second coupling pin section 54.2 is guided completely through the second passage opening 54.2 and into the passage opening 52 of the coupling element 18. In this way, the latch 12 and the coupling element 18 are coupled to one another by the coupling pin 48 and in particular by the second coupling pin section 48.2 of the control element 38, i.e. the coupling element 18 is therefore brought into its coupled state (FIG. 15).

[0072] In this coupled state, the coupling element 18 is rigidly connected to the latch 12 with respect to the direction of movement along the longitudinal axis L of the coupling element 18 so that, on the actuation of the actuation element 14, said latch 12 is taken along by the coupling element 18 into its unlatched position. In this respect, the coupling pin 48 is also taken along the longitudinal axis L of the latch 12 so that the control element 38 is rotated, wherein a longitudinal axis of the articulated channel 58 is tilted in the direction of the latch 12 (FIG. 15). The articulated channel 58 is bounded at two sides by rounded wall sections 64 between which a cam section 66 of the pivot arm 60 is received. In addition to the rotational movement of the control element 38 in the direction of the latch 12, a translational movement of the control element 38 in the direction of the latch 12, in particular in parallel with the actuation axis B, may also be provided, by which translational movement it is ensured that the latch 12 with its passage openings 54.1, 54.2, the coupling element 18 with its passage opening 52, and the coupling pin 48 are always aligned with one another with respect to the actuation axis B. In the overall view, the coupling pin 48 of the control element 38 is thus effectively displaced in parallel with the longitudinal axis L of the latch. The wall sections 64 are configured such that they provide a secure guidance of the control element 38 during the rotational movement and the translational movement.

[0073] The latch 12 is in engagement with the control element 38 not only in the coupled state, but also in the decoupled state (FIG. 9), wherein the latch 12 and the control element 38 are movably connected to one another. A relative rotation about the longitudinal axis K of the coupling pin 48 (FIG. 15) and a relative translation in the direction of the arrow 62 or in the reverse direction are in particular possible (FIG. 9).

[0074] The lock 10 furthermore has a blocking element 68 that is configured as a blocking pin at the control element 38 in the embodiment shown, said blocking pin extending coaxially to the coupling pin 48 from the second tine 44.2 toward an outer side of the control fork 40. The blocking element 68 may be adjusted between a blocking position, in which the latch 12 is blocked in its latched position by the blocking element 68, and a release position in which the latch 12 is movable into its unlatched position. To block a movement of the latch 12 from its latched position, the blocking element 68 may, in its blocking position, be in engagement with a component of the lock 10. In the embodiment shown, provision is made that the blocking element 68 is in engagement with a non-movable housing of the lock 10, specifically with a housing wall 70, in the blocking position (FIG. 9). An opening 72 is formed in the housing wall 70 for this purpose, said opening 72 receiving the blocking element 68 in its blocked state and blocking a movement of the blocking element 68 along the longitudinal axis L of the latch 12.

[0075] Since the blocking element 68 is formed at the control element 38, which is always connected to the latch 12 by means of the coupling pin 48 and specifically by means of the second coupling pin section 48.2 coaxial to the blocking element 68, a movement of the latch 12 along its longitudinal axis L, and thus a movement into the unlatched position, is also blocked by the fixing of the blocking element 68 in the blocking position.

[0076] The adjustment of the blocking element 68 from the blocking position in accordance with FIG. 9 into the release position takes place by means of the electric motor 56. Since said electric motor 56 linearly displaces the control element 38 along the direction 62 (FIG. 9), the blocking element 68 is released from the opening 72 of the housing wall 70 and thus enables a movement along the longitudinal axis L of the latch 12.

[0077] The movement of the blocking element 68 into the release position is simultaneously accompanied by a transfer of the coupling element 18 into its coupled state so that, on the one hand, the movement of the latch 12 into the unlatched position is no longer blocked by the blocking element and, on the other hand, an actuation of the actuation element 14 actually enables an adjustment of the latch 12 into the unlatched position.

[0078] On the other hand, in accordance with the embodiment shown, the coupling element 18 is also in its decoupled state when the blocking element 68 is located in the blocking position. Thus, on the one hand, the actuation of the latch 12 by means of the actuation element 14 and thus also the manipulability of the lock 10 are precluded, while an unintentional adjustment of the latch 12 into the unlatched position is additionally prevented by the blocking element 68.

[0079] It is understood that the blocking element 68 has to be aligned with the opening 72 of the housing wall so that the blocking element 68 may be brought into engagement with the opening 72, i.e. may therefore move into said opening 72. In other words, the transfer of the blocking element 68 from the release position back into the blocking position requires the latch 12 to be located in its latched position. If, in contrast, the latch 12 does not return completely into its latched position starting from its unlatched position, for example, because the energy store to be secured has not been inserted correctly, the blocking element 68 coupled to the latch 12 also cannot move into the opening 72, and consequently cannot reach its blocking position, due to the lack of alignment with the opening 72 of the housing wall 70. Accordingly, in this case, the coupling element 18 does not reach its decoupled state, i.e. it is not decoupled from the latch 12.

[0080] Since the displacement of the blocking element 68 from the release position back into the blocking position takes place by means of the electric motor 56, it may be monitored by means of the electric motor 56 whether the blocking element 68 reaches its blocking position or not. For example, the electric motor 56 may be a stepper motor by means of which it may be detected how far the blocking element 68 may actually be moved. Alternatively, it may be concluded from an increased power consumption of the electric motor 68 that the blocking element 68 abuts the housing wall 70 instead of moving into the opening 72.

[0081] If it is determined by means of the electric motor 56 that the blocking element 68 cannot reach its blocking position and the latch 12 is thus not located in its latched position, a corresponding warning may be output to the user of the lock 10 so that the user may check and, if necessary, correct the functional state of the lock 10 and/or the position of the energy store. Specifically, the warning, e.g. in the form of visual and/or acoustic feedback, may be output at an onboard computer of the electric bicycle, at a cell phone of the user, and/or at the lock 10 itself.